Substitution entries close at 4pm, 19 March 2014

There is a final glimmer of hope for runners making a last-ditch effort to be part of the 2014 Old Mutual Two Oceans Ultra Marathon, Half Marathon or Trail Runs.

Despite online entries for these events being sold out - including charity entries for the Half Marathon - prospective runners have until 4pm on 19 March 2014 to take the place of athletes that can no longer participate by means of the substitution entry process.

This year also marks the first time that Ultra Marathon entries have sold out and are open for substitution. Entrants with paid entries into the Ultra Marathon, but who haven't managed to qualify to participate in the event, may also release their entries for substitution to athletes who have met the qualification criteria but couldn't enter on time.

How to get an entry

Runners that can no longer participate in their respective events must log into their profile on www.twooceansmarathon.org.za, click on the "substitute" button and follow the online instructions. Substitute entrants may only submit an entry for the distance originally entered by the athlete withdrawing from the race.

All entry changes must be finalised by 4pm on 19 March 2014. And as all the events have reached their entry limit, upgrades / downgrades are no longer possible.Old Mutual puts up R1-million for each of the ultra marathon record winners

In addition to the R250 000 prize money that can be won by the Ultra Marathon winners, title sponsor Old Mutual will pay an additional R1-million to the winning male and female runner who respectively breaks the record for the 56km Ultra Marathon in 2014.

The men’s record of 3:03:44 was set in 1988 by road running legend Thompson Magawana, while Frith van der Merwe set the women’s record a year later in 1989 when she ran 3:30:36.

The closest any runner has come since then is Zimbabwean Marko Mambo, who ran 3:05:39 in 2005, and who has won the race three times. Russian Olesya Nurgalieva ran the second fastest women’s time in 2008 when she crossed the finish line in 3:34:53.

Says Mokaedi Dilotsotlhe, General Manager of Marketing at Old Mutual, “By upping the stakes for record-breakers by R1 million for the male and female runners, we want to encourage top runners from South Africa and the rest of African continent to come and compete in the biggest road running event in Africa. We also want runners to push beyond boundaries and do great things as the world’s best come to take part in the world’s most beautiful marathon.”